Provides relative to the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board

HB 246 Original 2026 Regular Session Spell

Abstract: Provides for the membership of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board and its subcommittees.

Present law provides that the purpose of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board (advisory board) is to ensure information sharing between governmental and nongovernmental entities serving children and to make recommendations to the Children's Cabinet from the perspective of advocacy groups, service providers, and parents.

Present law provides that the advisory board is composed of the following members: (1) A representative from Agenda for Children. (2) A representative from the Louisiana Children's Trust Dedicated Fund Account. (3) A representative from Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana. (4) A representative from the Louisiana Maternal and Child Health Coalition. (5) A representative from Louisiana Early Steps. (6) A representative from the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. (7) The director of the State Head Start Collaboration Project or his designee. (8) A representative from the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Board. (9) A representative from Louisiana State University, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. (10) No fewer than three and no more than five parents nominated by agencies represented herein and approved by the cabinet. (11) The assistant secretary of child welfare of the Department of Children and Family Services or his designee. (12) The assistant secretary of the office on women's health and community health or his designee. (13) The assistant secretary of the office for citizens with developmental disabilities of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee. (14) The assistant secretary of the office of public health of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee. (15) The assistant secretary of the office of behavioral health of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee. (16) The director of the bureau of health services financing of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee. (17) A representative of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children. (18) A representative of Louisiana Works, to be designated by the secretary. (19) The assistant secretary of the office of juvenile justice of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his designee. (20) Three representatives of the Department of Education, to be designated by the superintendent. (21) A representative of the division of administration, as designated by the commissioner. (22) The chairman of the Partners in Protecting Children Subcommittee or his designee. (23) A member of the Louisiana Families In Need Of Services Association. (24) A member of the Louisiana Court-Appointed Special Advocate Association. (25) A member of the Louisiana Catholic Conference. (26) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System or his designee. (27) The chief executive officer of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, health care services division, or his designee. (28) A representative of the National Association of Social Workers. (29) The state child ombudsman, who shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member. (30) A representative from the Louisiana Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics. (31) The president of the Louisiana Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or his designee. (32) A member of the Louisiana Assembly on School-Based Health Care. (33) A member of the Louisiana Chapter of the March of Dimes. (34) A representative of Families Helping Families. (35) A representative of the Louisiana Association of Childcare Agencies. (36) A representative of Louisiana Children's Advocacy Centers. (37) A representative of the Institute of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health at Tulane University. (38) A representative of the Louisiana Primary Care Association. (39) A representative of the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families. (40) A representative of the Louisiana Occupational Therapy Association.

Proposed law removes the representative from the Louisiana Maternal and Child Health Coalition and adds the superintendent of the Louisiana State Police to the advisory board.

Present law provides that the Council on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (subcommittee) is a subcommittee of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board.

Present law provides that the subcommittee is composed of the following members: (1) The executive director of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board, or his designee. (2) Three members representing the Department of Children and Family Services appointed by the secretary of the department, one of whom shall be a representative of the kinship care subsidy program, one of whom shall be a representative of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and one of whom shall be a representative of the foster care program. (3) Two members representing the Louisiana Department of Health appointed by the secretary of the department, one of whom shall be a representative of the behavioral health program, and one of whom shall be a representative of the Medicaid eligibility program. (4) A member representing the Department of Education appointed by the superintendent, who shall be a representative of the child care assistance program. (5) The secretary of Louisiana Works, or his designee. (6) The deputy secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Youth Services, office of juvenile justice, or his designee. (7) A member of the Senate to be appointed by the president of the Senate. (8) A member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives. (9) The executive director of the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, or his designee. (10) The president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, or his designee. (11) One member representing and appointed by Agenda for Children. (12) One member representing and appointed by Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana. (13) One member representing and appointed by the Louisiana Children's Trust Dedicated Fund Account. (14) At least five citizens who have demonstrated a commitment to the rearing of grandchildren by grandparents, to be nominated by the executive director of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board and approved by the council. (15) One member representing and appointed by the National Association of Social Workers - Louisiana. (16) One member representing and appointed by LouisianaChildren.org. (17) One member representing and appointed by the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. (18) One member representing and appointed by the Louisiana State Bar Association. (19) One representative of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana. (20) One member representing and appointed by the Access to Justice Committee of the Louisiana State Bar Association. (21) The president of the Louisiana Head Start Association, or his designee.

Present law provides that the Kinship Care Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are not administered by the Dept. of Children and Family Services.

Proposed law provides that the secretary of the department administering both SNAP and the Kinship Care Program shall appoint a member to serve on the subcommittee.

(Amends R.S. 46:2605(B)(4) and 2605.1(B)(2) and (16); Adds R.S. 46:2605.1(B)(22); Repeals R.S. 46:2605(34) and (37))